Humidifier for hot-air furnaces



R. E. KELM HUMIDIFIER FOR HOT AIR FURNACES Filed March 21,

July 1 0, 1923.

U UNITED smrss Patented July 10, 1923.

H 1,461,423 rsr orrics.

RICHARD. Ea .KELM, for WAUKEE, wIsooivsIN.

HUMIDIFIER For, nor-sin rurmaons.

Application filed March 21, 1922. Serial No. 545,406.

particularly adapted for use in connection with hot air furnaces.

It is a well known physical fact that the cold air, which is drawn into the chamber surrounding the furnace and heated thereby for the purpose of conveying heat to the rooms of the house, loses thereby a large percentage of its relative humidity. In order to promote the health of the occupants of the house, therefore, as well as to prevent the Woodwork and furniturefrom becoming excessively dry, it is generally customary to provide a pan, or similar receptacle, which is within the air chamber and from time to time is filled with water for the purpose of supplying the desired moisture.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a device of this general nature, which will be so constructed and located that the vapor rising therefrom may be uniformly mingled with the air as it passes through the heating chamber.-

It is, also, an object of the invention to provide a more practical and convenient means, whereby the water may be always maintained within the furnace without any particular attention on the part of the operator.

The invention consists further in certain structural details and combinations thereof, which will be more particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawing and subsequently claimed.

In the drawing, the figure represents a vertical sectional View through a hot air furnace with my invention applied thereto.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a fire pot and 6 the ash-pit of a furnace of conventional design. The bottom 7 of the ash-pit upon which the furnace is supported, is preferably provided with an annular groove 8 within which the rim of the ash-pit 6 is set. Outsideof this groove is a downwardly extending channel or trough 9, which is formed integral with the bottom 7 and supports, the latter in spaced relation to the floor. The outer flange of the trough 9 supports a cylindrical housing 10, which substantially surrounds the furnace and provides a space into which the cold air is drawn through an opening 11, which is located near the trough 9. The air passing upwardly around the furnace and around openings in the heating drum 12 becomes heated and passes upwardly through pipes which are connected at 13. The trough 9 is adapted to be partly filled with water and being closely connected with the furnace causes the water to become moderately warm and the vapor rising therefrom, becomes thoroughly mingled with the air which is drawn in through the inlet 11. Theytrough 9 is, also, preferably provided with a supply pipe 14 which is controlled by astop cook 15 and with a valve 16, which is auto matically actuated by a float 17 to maintain the water in the trough at a constant level.

In addition to the advantages mentioned above, it will be, also, apparent that thelocation and construction of the water receptacles, as set forth, not only makes it convenient to sup-ply the water automatically, but also permits use of a larger quantity of water than constructions hitherto H used with its resultant beneficial results.

The water, also, absorbs and conserves the heat which, in the usual construction. is

radiated toward the ground and lost. The

water, also, acts as a dust collector and renders the air, which is carried, into the pipes, clean and wholesome and consequently, to a great extent, prevents the accumulation of dust and dirt in the house. 1

It will, also, be understood, that while I have shown and described specifically a way 5 v ash pit having an elevated floor joining the inner walls of said water trough to form a dead air space under the ash pit only, and an outer casing supported from the outer wall of said water trough and having acold air inlet in close proximity to said Water trough.

2. The combination of a trough containing Water, a cylindrical housing carried by 5 the outer Wall of the trough, a fire pot, an ash pit, a bottom for said ash pit carried. by the upper part of the inner Wall of said trough, said bottom having dead air space below to prevent the absorption of heat beneath said ash pit.

it In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of WVisconsin.

RICHARD E. KELM. 

